“The waters flooded the earth for a hundred fifty days.”
The drive that last longer than expected, the jobs that seem to drag on, the school day that does not end because you have to stay after for a project, all of these scenarios are hard to deal with. These circumstances test our resolve and patience. If we are not careful, we could return home at the end of the day frazzled and worn out ready to pounce on some unsuspecting person who really does not deserve it.
When we think of Noah and the flood we think of the 40 days and nights he and his family spent inside the ark with all sorts of different animals. Over time, Hollywood has given us Charlton Heston to Evan Almighty portraying the flood. A story that will never lose its charm and wonder. The cool thing is that nearly every civilization records a large flooding event that happened at this time. Some questions about the story will never really be answered such as, “Did everyone really die but Noah and his family?” or “Was every animal really on the ark?.” I’ll bet we can come up with many more questions. These questions exist because the Bible is quite silent on most of them.
Instead of addressing the questions, I want to focus on one point for a short devotional. Most of us think Noah and his family were in the ark for 40 days. However, it was really more like 150 days or over 5 months. Just like the day that doesn’t seem to end, Noah was stuck in the ark for 150 days. The Bible says that it rained for 40 days straight. To drive the point home even further, Noah and his family were on the ark 110 days after the rain stopped, or over 3 months. The beginning of chapter 8 says, “But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals…” As I read this, I am reminded of how the bad news part of our day seems to be the short part. It is the living out the bad news that seems to drag on.
Today, realize your journey is not over. You may be on the ark in your life. Cooped up and nowhere to go except with some stinky people who you seem to have to care for. But God remembered Noah just like He remembers you. It may have stopped raining, but you seem to have endure more time going through the mess. So get up every day and begin your day with praising the Lord for all He has done and pray that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to what the good Lord wants to show you today, in the middle of the rain or waiting for waters to reside. He has never left you nor has He forsaken you. The good news is that God promised an epic flood like this will never happen again. The bad news is we still live in a fallen world with an enemy that roams about seeking someone to devour. Take courage in the Lord today. Those stinky people who you take care of are there by design, God’s design. So make the most of it, let the Joy of Lord be your strength.
Let It Go 
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